Archive for 'Northwest Italy'

The beautiful crescent-shaped town of Portofino stretches along the coast of Liguria on the Italian Riviera and is one of Italy's most wonderful, exclusive and famous seaside destinations. It is a picturesque village that is filled with a cluster of colourful buildings hugging the port, boats and yachts bobbing in the harbour, and tourists wandering the streets and eating fresh food at tables overlooking the water.

If you have found a luxury villa in Liguria, it is an ideal place to spend some time unwinding and enjoying the unique atmosphere of the town. While there, one of the must-see highlights is the lovely Castello Brown.

Castello Brown is perched on a rocky outcrop above the town, which overlooks Portofino and is surrounded by picturesque hanging gardens. While it is now a house museum, its very prominent and strategic location in the town clearly indicated its original function as a practical defensive structure.

The House of Andrea Mantegna is a 15th century building in the city of Mantua that is a vibrant art centre where temporary exhibitions and cultural events take place.

It is also a museum that collects, documents and researches the evolution of its namesake's art: Andrea Mantegna.

Mantegna was an Italian painter who went on to have one of the most important print workshops in Italy. The House of Andrea Mantua was built by the artist as his home and is the ultimate expression of his ambitions and how he wanted to be seen as a person and artist.

Built on a piece of land donated by Ludovico II Gonzaga, one of the most influential patrons in Italy at the time and part of the ruling Gonzaga family of Mantua, the house is expressed across two floors on a square plan with a central circular courtyard around which all of the rooms are arranged.

Passo Tonale is a great, budget-(and beginner)-friendly ski resort in Italy located on a high mountain pass that links the regions of Trentino and Lombardy.

Its location means that you can find a vacation rental in Trentino or a vacation rental in Lombardy, giving you more options to choose from and the wiggle room to find the perfect villa from which to base yourself as you enjoy the winter sports that Italy has to offer. It's the best of both worlds!

The village is located at the foot of the slopes with a gondola, that was installed in 2015, and an efficient lift system that makes the glacier more readily accessible. These go from Passo Paradiso to the slopes of Passo Presena, which are mainly suited to beginners and intermediate skiiers, and also link the town to the slopes of Ponte di Legno and Temù, which offer something more interesting for more advanced skiers.

Gorgonzola is one of the world's oldest blue-veined cheeses and is a DOP certified food that is largely produced in the northern Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy. The name comes from Gorgonzola, in Milan, which is said to be the birthplace of the cheese, though this is now disputed. It is a crumbly, soft cheese that can have a mild or sharp taste, depending on its age, and is made of unskimmed cow's milk, to which starter bacteria and the spores of the mould Penicillium glaucum are added. The whey is then removed during curdling and the result is aged at low temperatures and ripened for at least three to four months. The iconic its greenish-blue marbling that distinguishes Gorgonzola was not always a feature and was added in the 11th century.

The Battle of the Oranges is probably one of those events that you have heard tell of plenty of times during your childhood, seen mentioned in books or discussed in passing on television shows but you might not actually know the whole story or what it actually is before. Well, never fear, we're here to inform you about this rather fascinating and unique annual event in Italy…

The Historical Carnival of Ivrea, which culminates in the famous Battle of the Oranges, is a festival that takes place in February each year in the town of Ivrea. The battle itself lasts three days and really does involve oranges.